Missouri Prosecutors Trying to Stop Medical Marijuana

Missouri prosectors are are fighting to keep the state from becoming the 26th to legalize medical marijuana.

Last week an affidavit was filed in Missouri to fight legal medical marijuana. The language in the filing seemed to be a throwback to the classical marijuana propaganda days.

The affidavit claimed that marijuana “destroys children’s lives and results in addiction and a lifetime of suffering and that legalizing it for medical use “would be a devastating mistake for millions of Missourians.”

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St. Louis prosector, Bob McCullough, was one of the names attached to the affidavit filing. He told CBS St. Louis that legalizing medical marijuana would put the state at odds with federal law.

“By enacting something that is contrary to federal law … it violates both the Missouri and the U.S. Constitution and that’s what we are asking the court to determine,” McCullough said.

The affidavit may be in response to efforts from the marijuana advocacy group New Approach Missouri. The group worked to get a medical marijuana initiative to the ballot for Missouri voters to take up in November. The effort fell short as some signatures were not considered valid. New Approach is suing Missouri Secreary of State, Jason Kander in order to include the previously rejected signatures.

Despite McCullough’s concerns regarding federal law, the state has already defied federal authorities by legalizing the use of CBD for patients with severe epilepsy. This could increase momentum for medical marijuana in the state’s future regardless of what happens with current ballot initiative.

John Payne of New Approach Missouri is accusing state officials of attempting to interfere with the will of voters.

“Prosecutors are elected to enforce the laws, not to lobby for their own self-interests or oppose the voters’ right to reform their government through the initiative process,” says Payne. “We believe doctors and patients, not politicians, should be making decisions about medical cannabis.”